Deadly encephalitis claims 22 lives of children in Gaya

Japanese encephalitis, a viral disease, claimed the lives of at least 22 children in Bihar's Gaya district.

A large number of children were admitted to the city's Magadh Medical College. The hospital reported that around 76 patients were admitted since August 23, 2011.

Talking to mediapersons, a relative of an encephalitis-infected patient said that her child was suffering from fever for the past many days.

She also said that the condition of the child was still critical.

The state health department has taken preventive measures such as undertaking immunization drives, fogging and spraying of mosquito-repellents in the affected areas.

"There is no difference in the treatment or protocol of Japanese encephalitis or other encephalitis. They are same. We have made a new protocol. We have given the protocol to the head of the village and also the protocol has been distributed in the child specialist departments of other hospitals of the city. I have made this protocol and the treatment would be followed accordingly and I have asked my junior doctors as well to follow the same protocol," said Ajay Kishore Ravi, Child Specialist in Magadh Medical College in Gaya.

Encephalitis is caused by mosquitoes that breed in stagnant water. Therefore, it is important to maintain cleanliness with an aim to prevent the disease from spreading.

The symptoms of encephalitis include headache, fever, convulsions, drowsiness, fatigue and the inflammation of the brain.

The disease has affected people in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam.